Material mixing apparatus



Mardi 27, 1934. A W. RYBECK 1,952,464

.MATERIAL MIXING APPARATUS Filed June 8, 1931 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 2.7, 1934 NETE@ STATES MATERIAL MIXING APPARATUSA Adolph W. Rybeck, lvlilwaukee,y Wis., assigner to T. L. Smith Company, Milwaukea Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application June 8,. 1931, Serial No. 542,803

13 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in material mix-ing machines and refers more particularly to heated apparatus for mixing concrete, and similar materials, and it is an object of this invention to provide a simple and efiicient means for heating the mixing drum of a conventional material mixing machine.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of heating means for a mixing apparatus which maintains an operative relation to the mixing drum being heated irrespective of the position of the drum.

And a more specific object of this invention resides in the provision of an outer shell surrounding a conventional mixing drum in spaced relation thereto and movable therewith, and in the ,provision of heating means projected. into the space between the drum and the shell.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in thenovel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

1n the accompanying drawing, one complete example of the physical embodiment of this in- Vention is illustrated constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a cross section View taken through a portable mixing machine embodying this invention, said view being taken on the plane of the line 1-1 of Figure 2; and j Figure 2 is a side View of the mixing machine.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 represents a frame which forms the base for the mixing machine and which may be portably mounted by wheels 6 or the like. Projected upwardly from the frame 5 is a pair of spaced standards 7, the upper ends of which form bearings for the trunnions 8 of a cradle 9, whereby the cradle is swingingly hung between the standards '7.k This cradle carries a plurality of guide rollers 10 on which a mixing drum, indicated generally by the numeral 11, is rotatably mounted to be rotated about its longitudinal axis by a gas engine or other power unit, not shown, enclosed within a housing 12 and drivingly connected through gears 13 with a shaft 14 extending through the adjacent trunnion 8. On the outer end of the shaft 14`- is a pinion 15 which meshes with a ring gear 16 encircling the mixing drum and carried thereby. j

The cradle 9 being tiltably mounted from the standards 7 and carrying the mixing drum, and the shaft 14 being axially aligned with the axis aboutwhich the cradle tilts, permits the cradle and the mixing drum carried thereby to be tilted to adischarging position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, without disturbing the driving connection from the power unit to the mixing drum.

The mixing drum comprises an inner drum 17 of conventional design having its ends conically reduced to provide a discharge 18 and an inlet 19. The interior of the drum carries suitable paddles, not shown, for agitating the material placed therein through a hopper 20 carried by the cradle, as the drum is rotated.

Surrounding the drum is an outer shell 21 which is carried by the drum and held in spaced relation thereto by spacers 22. The end of the outer shell 21 adjacent the discharge end of the drum is conically reduced as at 23 and in correspondence with the discharge end 18 of the drum so that substantially the same space is maintained between this end portion of the drum and the shell as between the central cylindrical portion of the drum and shell. The opposite end 24 of the outer shell, however, is preferably a continuation of its central portion so as to provide a taperingly increasing annular space between the shell and the inlet end 19 of the drum.

l'nto this space a fuel burner 25 extends to direct a ilame of burning fuel into the reduced space between the drum and outer shell. rIhis burner 25 may be of any desired typedep'ending upon the character of fuel to be used, and is carried by a bracket structure 26 fixed to the cradle, as at 27, and braced by a diagonally extending member 28. The bracket structure 26 also carries a fuel tank 29 adapted to store fuel, preferably liquid, under pressure, and the tank 29 is communicated with the burner through a valved pipe line 30.y

By mounting the burner and the fuel supply from the cradle, and by providing an annular space between the drum and the outer shell which is open at one end and into which open end the burner projects, the drum and the shell are free for rotation while at the same time substantially all portions of the drum are subjected to the direct heat of the flame, and being carried by the cradle, the presence of the heating means in no way complicates or disturbs the tilting of the'cradle and the drum.

It is observed that the ring gear 16 as carried by an annular track member 31 which completely encircles the outer shell and is ilxed thereto, the track member 3l being engaged with the rollers lo to rotatably mount the drum and shell, and if desired a guard housinfI 32 may be provided over the upper half 'of the track and ring gear.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which an invention of the character described appertains, that the apparatus or" this invention rovides an extremely simple and eiiicient manner of heating a material mixing drum and thatA with only its flame projecting into the space between the shell and drum.

What l claim as my invention is:

1. A heated mixing apparatus comprising, an axially rotatable mixing drum, a shell surrounding the mixing drinn in spaced relation thereto and rotatable therewith, the space between the mixing drum and the shell aiording a heating chamber and the shell having an opening encircling the drum to provide an annular entrance to the heating chamber and stationary means for directing a heating medium into the space between the mixing drum and the shell.

2. A heated mixing apparatus comprising, a rotatable mixing drum, a shell surrounding the mixing drum in spaced relation thereto and rotatable therewith, the space between the drum and shell forming a heating chamber, and one end of the shell being open to afford an annular entrance to said heating chamber, and a fuel burner for projecting a name into the heating chamber through said annular entrance.

3. A heated mixing apparatus comprising a rotatable mixing drum, a shell open at one end and surrounding the mixing drum in spaced relation thereto, means connecting the shell with the mixing drum whereby the shell is rotatable with the mixing drum, and a fuel burner at the open end of the shell for projecting a ilame into the space between the mixing drum and the shell through said open end of the shell.

4. A heated mixing apparatus comprising a rotatable mixing drum, a shell surrounding the drum, means for connecting the shell with the drum whereby the shell moves with the drum, a tiltable cradle in which the drum and shell are rotatably mounted, means for tilting the cradle to tilt the drum and shell to permit the drum to be discharged, a fuel burner for projecting flame into the space between the drum and the shell, and means mounting the burner from the cradle whereby the burner remains in operative relation to the drum and shell irrespective of their positions.

5. A heated mixing apparatus comprising an axially rotatable mixing drum, a shell surrounding the drum in spaced relation thereto to afford a heating chamber surrounding the drum, the shell having an opening encircling the drum to provide an annular entrance to the heating chamber, means for connecting the shell with the drum so that the shell is axially rotatable with the mixing drum, means for simultaneously rotating the shell and drum including a member encircling the shell, a tiltable cradle in which the shell and drinn are rotatably mounted, and heating means carried by the cradle and adapted tc project a flame through said annular entrance opening into the heating chamber afforded by the space between the drum and the shell irrespective of the position of the drum and shell.

5. ln a heated mixing apparatus oi' the character described, a mixing a shell surrounding the drum in spaced relation thereto and having one end open to aiord access to the space between the drum and shell, means for connecting the drum and shell, means mounting the drum and shell for simultaneous rotation, and means for projecting a heating medium through the open end o the shell and into the space between the drum and the shell.

7. In a heated mixing apparatus of the character described, a mixing drui'n, a shell surrounding the mixing drum in spaced relation thereto and having one end open to afford access to the space between the drum and s ell, means for connecting the drum and shell, a tiltable cradle, means for rotatably supporting the drum and shell on said tiltable cradle to be tiltable with the cradle, and means carried by the tiltable cradle for projecting a heating medium through the open end of the outer shell and into the space between the drum and shell.

8. ln a heated mixing apparatus of the character described, a mixing drum, a shell surrounding the mixing drtun in spaced relation thereto and having one end open to afford access to the space between the drum and shell, means for connecting the drum and shell, a tiltable cradle, means for rotatably supporting the drum and shell on said tiltable cradle to be tiltable with the cradle, a burner carried by the tiltable cradle and positioned in line with the space between the shell and the drum at the open end of the shell to project a llame or" burning fuel into the space between t7 e drum and shell, and fuel supply means carried by the cradle and connected with the burner.

9. In a heated mixing apparatus of the character described, a mixing drum member, a shell member surrounding the drum member in spaced relation thereto and connected therewith, said shell member having one end open, one or said members dverging from the other at the open end of the shell member to taperingly increase the annular space between the members and provide a relatively wide annular space at the extreme open end of the shell member, means mounting said members for simultaneous rotation, and means for projecting a heating medium through the relatively widey annular space at the open end of the shell member and into the Space between the drum and shell members.

1). A heated mixing apparatus comprising, an axially rotatable mixing drum, a shell entirely encircling said mixing drum in spaced relation thereto and rotatable therewith to afford a heating chamber encircling the drum but having no communication with the interior thereof, said shell having an opening encircling the drum to provide an annular entrance to said heating chamber, a support for the mixing drum and shell, cooperating means encircling the shell and carried by the support for rotatably mounting the mixing drum and shell and imparting rotation thereto, and means carried by said support for directing a heating medium through said annular entrance into the heating chamber afforded by the space between the mixing drum and shell.

11. A heated mixing apparatus comprising, a

rotatable unit including a mixing drum and a shell entirely encircling the mixing drum and connected thereto in spaced relationship to aiford a heating chamber entirely encircling the mixing drum and rotatable with the mixing drum, the shell having an opening encircling the drum to aord an annular entrance to said heating chamber, stationary means to direct a heating medium into said entrance opening to said heating chamber so that the contents oi the mixing drum are eiectively heated, and means on the outer periphery of the shell to rotatably mount said rotatable unit.

12. A heated mixing apparatus comprising, an axially rotatable mixing drum, a shell entirely encircling the mixing drum in spaced relation thereto and rotatable therewith, a burner positioned to direct a flame burning thereat into the space between the mixing drum and shell,

an annular track encircling the shell to be without the zone of excessive heat aiorded by the space between the shell and mixing drum, a tiltable cradle having anti-friction means engaging the annular track to rotatably mount the mixing drum and shell, drive means including a ring gear encircling the shell for imparting rotation to the drum and shell, and means mounting the burner from the tiltable cradle.

13. A heated mixing apparatus comprising, an axially rotatable mixing drum, a shell surrounding the mixing drum in spaced relation thereto and rotatable therewith, said space between the mixing drum and shell affording a heating chamber, one end of the shell being open to provide an annular entrance into the heating chamber, means to support the mixing drum and shell for rotation in unison including a member encircling the shell, and means to direct a heating medium into the heating chamber through said annular entrance.

ADOLPH W. RYBECK. 

